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On Friday, June 19th, we headed up to Missouri for a family vacation with my parents and my brother’s family. We spent Friday night in Oklahoma and then got up early Saturday to make it to my brother’s house in Oak Grove, Missouri. We spent Saturday visiting with everyone. Sunday (Father’s Day), we went to my brother’s church and listened to him preach. Afterwards, we went to eat at Culver’s and enjoyed a “butter burger” and ice cream. Monday, we headed off to Truman Lake and we spent the remainder of our trip there camping as a family…all 10 of us! You know me, I took lots of pictures and am going to share a few with you =)
Here the kids are playing in the camper. Our first day there was extremely hot and humid.
Riley and my niece Abby (I have 2 nieces named Abby, this is my brother’s daughter, not Marty’s brother’s daughter).
Riley playing with water gun while waiting to go on a boat ride.
Tuesday, the ladies all ran to town to visit quilt stores and to take my niece and nephew to gymnastics. After that, we went to watch Elijah’s (nephew) baseball game. It was SO hot! Abby built herself a “tent” with our umbrellas and kept nice and shaded.
The camping area we stayed at the Harry S. Truman Lake was really nice (except there were not water hook ups!). There was a park for the kids to play in. Riley enjoyed the slides.
Abby also enjoyed the slides.
The view of the lake from our camp.
My brother and his kids fishing from the boat on the shore.
Riley and Abby taking it easy down by the lake holding hands.
While at Truman Lake, we took the kids fishing at the Lost Valley Fish Hatchery in Warsaw Missouri. Riley and Abby taking a peek at the fish.
Colt, Elijah, Riley & Abby posing in a big shell at the fish hatchery.
The fish hatchery had a really nice, large fish tank that the kids to could sit in the room and watch.
More fish =)
The fish hatchery had some nice activities for the kids and had lots of educational material…would make a great homeschool field trip! So if you’re ever near Warsaw Missouri, check it out!
This is the fishing tank at the hatchery. Kids (15 and under) can fish for free and they provide the fishing pole, tackle box and bait for free. Colt couldn’t fish, so he helped the little ones reel in their fish.
Everyone getting ready to fish!
Riley caught the first fish of the day!
My sister-in-law, Kathy Jean, helping Abby real in a fish.
Abby and the fish she caught.
Riley’s 2nd fish.
My mom (Kathy Lee), my brother (Jack Jr.) and my dad (Jack Sr.). It gets confusing because my parents are Jack & Kathy and so are my brother and SIL…lol!
Colt and one of the fish he caught while out fishing with Marty.
Abby and my brother.
Colt and Marty posing by some of the fish they caught.
Riley and Abby hanging out.
On our way to the lake, we passed through this town called Tightwad Missouri. We really cracked up over that. But we were all rolling in the floor when we passed the Tightwad Bank!
The Tightwad Bank building
Abby, Elijah and Jack Jr posing with the fish they caught.
We headed back home on Friday and spent the night in McAlister Oklahoma. We made it home on Saturday by 2:30 p.m. The remainder of the weekend, we spent running some errands and getting unpacked. Today, I’m going to be doing laundry and getting back in the swing of homeschooling. I came home inspired by quilting and plan on “trying” to get some quilting accomplished. I’m still working on my crocheted afghan and hope to have it nearly done by this coming weekend. I hope everyone had a GREAT week and I should be back to posting as usual this week. Missed y’all!
This is such an easy soup to cook and it’s so filling! My guys just gobble it up!
Lentil Soup with Root Vegetables
2 cups lentils
3 cups filtered water
3 tbsp. whey, yogurt, kefir, vinegar, or lemon juice
1 tbsp. butter, raw
1 onion, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 cup turnips, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 quarts beef stock
1 tbsp. tomato paste
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
1/8 tsp. sea salt and pepper
In a bowl, combine the lentils, filtered water and whey. Let soak overnight, 8-12 hours. Before preparing, drain lentils. Place the lentils in a crockpot. In a saucepan, heat the butter and saute the onion, celery and garlic, for about 6 minutes, until softened and golden brown. Add the sauteed vegetables to the crockpot, along with the remaining ingredients. Cook on low all day, until lentils and root vegetables are cooked through.
When I first fixed this recipe, I was really surprised by how much my boys loved it. My oldest is a little “iffy” when it comes to cabbage and he gobbled it up. We often use this as a side dish, but have fixed it several times as a meal. It’s good either way, but as a meal, it makes a frugal and simple meal that my family enjoys. It’s also really good for you!
Baked Cabbage
1 head cabbage
1 cup water
2 stick real butter
Seasoning of choice (I use Taco seasoning or Italian seasoning)
Preheat oven to about 400 degrees. Take a head of cabbage and cut it into pieces. Put it in a casserole dish with a lid. Add about 1 cup water and a couple sticks of real butter. I also season it at this point. Garlic and onion are good, but believe it or not, my kids REALLY like it with taco seasoning or Italian dressing seasoning mixes! I put it in the oven for about 10-15 minutes until its’ soft and translucent. I don’t add salt until it’s done and then salt and pepper to taste. This works really good and I use the butter “sauce” over it (or freeze any dripping to use in soup
We are Texans through and through. My family loves all those hot and spicy recipes and this is a favorite!
Pepperpot Soup
8 oz. Beef stew meat, cut into chunks
2 qts. Beef stock
4 green onions, coarsely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1-2 fresh hot chili peppers, finely chopped (we use jalepenos)
8 oz. Sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into ½ inch cubes
1/8 tsp. Ground allspice
5 oz. Frozen cut okra, thawed (half a 10 oz. Bag)
1/8 tsp. Each sea salt and pepper
In a large saucepan, bring the meat and beef stock to a boil over medium heat. Simmer for 2 minutes. Strain the liquid, then return the beef and stock to the saucepan. Add the green onions, garlic, and chili pepper to the saucepan and return to a boil. Simmer for 30-45 minutes, partially covered, until the beef is very tender. Add the sweet potatoes and allspice and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the okra, salt and pepper and simmer for about 10 minutes longer.
I found this in a notebook that my Mother put together for her Homemaking class in 1957.
1. Avoid using all one type of food in one meal.
2. Don’t serve more than one strong flavored food.
3. Have a good balance between soft and solid foods.
4. Serve several foods easy to digest in the same meal.
5. The courses should contrast hot-cold and tart-sweet.
6. Avoid serving so much you have leftovers.
7. Avoid overcrowded tables, they are not attractive
This is the both I use nearly as much as my chicken stock. It works great as a base for soups and stews, but is also yummy as the cooking liquid for rice, beans, and all sorts of grains. Yummy stuff!
Beef Stock
3 lb. Beef or veal bones, cut into 2 inch pieces (your butcher can do this)
3 qts filtered water, more as necessary
2 large onions, halved but not peeled
2 cloves garlic
10 black peppercorns
2 bay leaves
parsley springs
2 large carrots, cut into 2 inch pieces
2 stalks celery, cut into 2 inch pieces
1 cup diced tomatoes
In the over, roast the bones for 30 minutes at 400 degrees. Place the bones in a large stockpot and cover with the water. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Using a slotted spoon, skim off and discard any gray scum that rises to the surface. Add the remaining ingredients (except tomatoes) and return to a boil. Simmer, partially covered for about 1 hour, skimming the fat occasionally. Add tomatoes and simmer for about 30 minutes longer. Remove from heat and strain through cheese cloth. Allow the stock to cool and then refrigerate. Remove the hardened fat with a spoon. Stock may be stored in the refrigerator is using right away or canned or frozen for longer term storage.
My boys just love this soup on cold winter days. It’s nice and filling and served with sandwiches, makes a favorite lunch.
Chicken and Rice Soup
¾ cup brown rice
1 cup water
1 tbsp. Whey, yogurt, kefir, vinegar, or lemon juice
2 qts. Homesmade chicken stock
8 oz. Chicken breasts, cut into chunks
12 oz. Fresh spinach leaves, washed and shredded
1 tbsp. Lemon juice
1/8 tsp. Each sea salt and black pepper
In a bowl, place the brown rice and cover with 1 cup water and 1 tbsp. Whey. Let soak overnight, 8-12 hours. When ready to start the soup, drain the rice. Bring the chicken broth to a boil in a stock pot. Add the rice and let simmer, covered, for about 45 minutes. Add the sliced chicken and cook partially covered for 5 minutes longer. Stir in the spinach and simmer for another 5 minutes. Soup is ready when the rice is tender and the chicken is cooked. Season with the lemon juice, sea salt and pepper..
Growing up, I REALLY didn’t like okra cooked any way other than fried. I loved fried okra, but put it in a stew or gumbo and I was totally grossed out by the slimy texture of it. It’s taken me years to be able to eat cooked okra, but my boys just LOVE it! So this is a family favorite around here!
Spicy Okra Stew
2 lb. ground beef or ground turkey
1 lb. frozen or fresh sliced okra
2 cans rotel style tomatoes
Brown the ground meat until cooked through, do not drain. Stir in okra and tomatoes and let cook for 10-15 minutes longer. We eat as is or serve over rice.
This is probably my most used stock. I use it for everything, including cooking rice, mashed potatoes, and my family’s favorite quinoa. Nice simple recipe that I end up cooking once every couple of weeks.
Homemade Chicken Stock
3 lbs. Chicken, assorted pieces, including wings, necks and gizzards
3 qts. Filtered water, more as necessary
2 stalks celery
1 large onion, quartered by not peeled
1 clove garlic, whole
parsley, fresh
2 bay leaves
2 large carrots, cut into 2 inch pieces
10 black pepper corns
Rinse the chicken and place in a large stockpot. Cover with water and bring to a boil over medium heat. Using a spoon, skim off and discard any gray scum that rises to the surface. Add the remaining ingredients and return to a boil. Partly cover and simmer the stock, skimming the fat from the surface occasionally for 1 ½ – 2 hours. Remove from the heat and strain the stock through cheesecloth. You can eat the chicken and vegetables if you’d like. Allow the stock to cool and then refrigerate. Remove the hardened fat with a spoon. Stock may be stored in the refrigerator is using right away or canned or frozen for longer term storage.
This was an interesting article that was in the magazine put out by our local hospital.
Is exercise a part of your daily life? Not if you’re like most U.S. Adults. More than 50 percent don’t get enough physical activity to reap any health benefits. That may be hard to believe when days are a blur of work, household chores, errands and family time. Unfortunately, busy-ness is not the same as fitness. But you can find plenty of ways to stay in shape and accomplish all you need to if you look in the right places.
Try these tips to fit fitness in your daily routine:
Make cleaning count. The stretching, lifting and sheer physical work involved in mopping floors, scrubbing tubs and other housework can get you moving. Put on your sneakers, play some lively music and pick up the pace.
Wash the Car. This can be a refreshing chore on a warm day.
Mow the lawn with a push mower. Sorry, ride-on mowers don’t count.
Make your garden grow. Raking, hoeing, pruning and digging are great exercises to strengthen your arms, legs and back. A vigerous hour of gardening can burn up to 300 calories.
Walk the dog. Share a twice-daily constitutional with your furry friend. Choose a hilly route and keep a brisk pace.
Work out while watching TV. Pedal a stationary bike, walk on a treadmill, use a stair climber, lift weights, or use other home fitness equipment while you watch TV.
Paint it pretty. Don’t hire painters; get a good workout and save money by taking on home repairs and improvement projects yourself.
Walk the talk. Ge up and move around while talking on the phone. Even better, grab your cell phone and take a few laps around the block as you chat.
Run errands on pedal power. If you live far from your town’s main strip, drive to a central location and head out on foot or bike (or scooter!) to swing by the bank and post office, drop off dry cleaning, return videos and library books and pick up fresh vegetable for dinner.
Aim to find at least 30 minutes a day for moderate physical and aerobic activity that gets your heart pumping faster and your lungs taking in more air than usual. Regular exercise can lower cholesterol and triglycerides and help reduce stress from a hectic schedule. Pumping up the fitness volume of ordinary chores not only provides health benefits but makes accomplishing tasks more enjoyable.
